Round Table Conference on Human Equity and Change Management

10th January, 2015, Venue Partner Aurora Business School

Mr. Jitendra Kalra

Mr.Jitendra Kalra is the Chief Executive Officer of Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF), one of the India’s largest Corporate Foundations pioneering the urban employment generation program. He leads a team of 700 professionals engaged in livelihood promotion and poverty reduction. Under his guidance, DRF’s flagship program – ‘Livelihood Advancement Business School (LABS)’ has reached out to more than 300,000 poor families.
Under Kalra’s leadership, DRF moved in to Rural Livelihoods and reached out to more than 10000 poor rural families in past one year. The programme is now being scaled up rapidly.
Prior to his appointment as CEO in June 2008, Mr Kalra had served in United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as Program Head. During his seven years tenure with UNIDO, he had pioneered the ‘cluster development’ approach in India. As programme head, he lead a team responsible for Implementing ‘Cluster Development Program’ in Orissa for development of handloom, handicraft, NTFP and small scale industrial clusters to promote livelihoods. The program impacted more than 17 clusters wherein 5000 families were helped to increase their monthly income by significant levels.
Mr Kalra also conducted numerous training programs for cluster practitioners and policy makers within India and abroad. He has provided consultancy and training support to policy and implementing personnel in Iran, Pakistan and Turin (ILO).
Prior to his stint with the UNIDO, Mr. Kalra had served in the Indian Civil Services for 10 years as an Officer in the Indian Railway Accounts Service.